ST. PAUL – Residents in the St. Paul region are expressing concerns regarding a new updated map sketch of Pathways Alliance’s hub distribution line showing the pipeline’s close proximity to residential properties.
Among those residents is County of St. Paul resident Penny Fox, who said her residence received a new map from Pathways Alliance indicating changes to the hub distribution line which ends close to her property.
She believes she was notified because her property is now adjacent to the area where the proposed pipeline will run.
On a previous sketch plan, the portion of the Pathways Hub Distribution Line in St. Paul ended close to Lac Bellevue. Fox says the recent sketch plan dated May 30 indicates the line to end on the quarter section diagonally adjacent to her residence.
“So, we were a bit surprised,” said Fox.
She wonders if this means that an injection well would also be at the site. Ultimately, “My main concern is groundwater, because if you put [carbon dioxide] underground, how do we know that it doesn’t come back up?” says Fox.
She says she would appreciate more information about the project and the potential effects it might have on residents in the immediate area and the region.
Amil Shapka, a member of Lakeland-based environmental group No to CO2 Landowner’s Group, shares the same concerns.
He says there are a number of concerns reported by other residents, particularly “people in close proximity to it.”
Shapka and No to CO2 have been speaking against Pathways Alliance’s proposed carbon capture project. “All the other concerns that we expressed before still remain,” he said, which also includes concerns relating to groundwater and the potential impact on water quality.
Ultimately, he says the group’s primary concern is overall safety. “If the pipeline blows adjacent to your property, theoretically, you are at risk of dying.”
In an emailed statement to Lakeland Today, when asked about the specific proximity of the line to adjacent properties, Pathways Alliance President Kendall Diling said the group continue to communicate with landowners and occupants as routing adjustments are made.
“In addition, we are keeping residents and local authorities informed as per Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) regulatory requirements,” said Dilling.
Disaster Plan
Shapka is also concerned about the details for a disaster plan. “There’s been no consultation with the Town [of St. Paul] and the County [of St. Paul], who I think are going to be expected to provide those services,” he added.
“We can all have the public consultation we want, but what we really want [are] answers,” said Shapka, such as what would be the emergency response plan if an incident occurs.
“Who’s coming out there? Who’s to respond? Who’s paid for the special equipment? Is that going to be the County? Is that going to be the industry? Is that going to be the Town?” he questioned.
Shapka then referred to a carbon dioxide pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi in 2020, where 45 people were hospitalized. “And the comments from first responders... they weren’t just prepared,” he said.
According to Dilling, as part of the regulatory process, a Project Emergency Response Plan (ERP) will be included. "The ERP will be developed in coordination with stakeholders, such as regional and local authorities and local Indigenous groups.”
According to information provided to adjacent property owners provided by Pathways Alliance, an estimated 2.41 kilometres Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) is also planned.
Asked if Pathways Alliance have an estimate on how many residents reside in the zone, Dilling said the group are still consulting and following up with all residents within the zone as they adjust their routing, suggesting Pathways Alliance also plan to speak with fire and emergency services in the future as part of their consultation.
Consortium longevity
Another concern Fox raised is if Pathways Alliance, as a consortium, will last throughout the lifetime of the project. “If the partnership fails, who is responsible and accountable for the infrastructure, lands, sites for clean-up and mitigation?”
According to Dilling, “Throughout the operation of the Pathways Transportation Network and Storage Hub project, the operator will be responsible for the infrastructure.” They will also be responsible for monitoring and closure “as per regulations.”
“During the operation of the Storage Hub, the operator will be responsible to pay into Alberta’s Post-Closure Stewardship Fund that will be used for post-closure monitoring,” said Dilling..
Canadian Natural is presently the acting interim operator on behalf of the consortium.
Fox also wondered how residents and stakeholders will gain information or updates on the carbon capture project after Pathways Alliance removed content from its website, social media channels, and other public communications.
When asked, Dilling says any questions on the project can be emailed to: [email protected]
Bill C-59
Pathways Alliance removed content on its website and social media in response to Bill C-59's passing which amended the Competition Act to require companies to provide evidence to support their environmental claims.
The bill received royal assent on June 20.
Pathways Alliance is seeking clarity from the Competition Bureau on how the new law will be interpreted and applied to help guide its future communications approach.
“This is a direct consequence of the new legislation and is not related to our belief in the truth and accuracy of our environmental communications,” Pathways Alliance states on its website..
Meanwhile, Emilia Belliveau, Energy Transition Program Manager with the environmental group Environmental Defense, stated in a June press statement that “the fact that Pathways Alliance has taken such drastic action shows that they know they don’t have evidence to support the story they’re selling on carbon capture, and that its member companies' business plans don’t align with a net-zero future.”
Belliveau said rules are required to stop “greenwashing”, and that “C-59 is doing its job effectively if organizations like the Pathways Alliance are scrambling to take down their unsubstantiated environmental claims and rethinking their misleading advertising plans.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Energy Minister Brian Jean, and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz, in a June 20 joint statement, called the legislation “draconian”, claiming that Bill C-59 will “irreparably harm Canadians’ ability to hear the truth about the energy industry and Alberta’s successes in reducing global emissions.”
They also claim the legislation will hinder the ability of private entities to share “truthful and evidence-based information” that opposes the federal NDP-Liberal coalition’s narrative on the oil and gas sector.
"We’re already seeing the NDP-Liberal coalition’s plan play out as organizations like Pathways Alliance and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers are making difficult decisions to remove websites, reduce available information, and cease advertising out of fear that if they do not comply with the narrative of eco-extremists like Minister Stephen Guilbeault and Jagmeet Singh, their companies will face tens of millions in penalties,” reads the statement.
In the statement, the Alberta government also said they are exploring legal options, including a possible constitutional challenge, or through the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act, to protect the free speech rights of workers and companies in the energy sector.
“We will continue to relentlessly defend our province, its people, their free speech rights and their livelihoods without pause or apology,” concludes the statement.
Update
Dilling also provided an update on the project, noting that front-end engineering and design is ongoing, “including technical design and integrity testing.”
Pipeline Agreement applications for each section of the pipeline are also being prepared and continuously being submitted.
“Environmental field work continues to progress, including Historical Resource Impact Assessments, development of conservation and reclamation plans, wetland assessments and wildlife monitoring,” says Dilling.
